Hull FC man Ligi Sao is back running on the training field but his future beyond the end of the season remains up in the air.
The Black and Whites forward has hardly played this season after rupturing his patella tendon in a game against Wigan Warriors at the very start of the campaign. That injury was expected to rule him out for the rest of the year and FC successfully managed to de-register him in order to bring in Liam Knight from down under.
However, the versatile middle is making rapid progress in his recovery and as the season approaches its final few months, Sao isn’t far away from being fit to play. Given the club have seven overseas players registered, it seems unlikely that Sao will be able to feature for the first-team before the end of the year.
Nevertheless, assistant coach Andy Last hasn’t given up hope of seeing him involved in at least some capacity.
“He’s progressing really well,” Last said about Sao in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “He’s out on the field and is out running again. It’s great to see him back on the field and in and around the boys.
“I think he’s had six sessions on the field now. He’s not getting involved in too much of the skill stuff and changes of direction, but just the fact he’s in and around the boys and sharing the same training pitch is great for his mental state. He’s done a really good job.
“I’m hoping that he might be available for selection for a game towards the end of the season, but we’ll have to see how that goes. That’s something we’ll have to go through from a political point of view, but he’s still training hard and rehabbing well.”
Andy Last on Ligi Sao’s Hull FC future
If Sao cannot return before the end of the season, there’s a chance he will have played his last game for the club. The Samoa international is off-contract at the end of the season and even with the increased overseas quota, the Black and Whites are already close to the limit.
With Sam Lisone signed and Liam Knight expected to stick around, Hull already have nine overseas players contracted for next year and that’s without Sao. FC have also been linked with a move for Brisbane Broncos’ Jock Madden, suggesting they are looking at filling that 10th and final spot.
Of course, there could be more movement that opens the door for Sao to extend his career in west Hull, but as it stands right now, his future is uncertain to say the least.
“I don’t know with regards to Ligi,” Last added when asked about the forward’s future. “He’s not contracted for next season, and he’s still in the injured crew. He’s just ticking along and doing his rehab.”
